Dylan Murchie (UP-Tuks) might be one of the smallest players in the Varsity Football Tournament, but then again it is never about size it is about whether you can do the job.
The 20-year old first-year sports science student certainly can. Last week against UWC he scored his first Varsity goal, but he has been unlucky not to have scored at least one or two more goals. Murchie is a real live wire. It is guaranteed that whenever UP-Tuks is on the attack that he will be in the thick of things. Being so active tend to come with a price. Murchie has taken some hard physical knocks in his constant quest to score, but it is not stopping him.
Tlisane Motaung (UP-Tuks head coach) describes Murchie as a born finisher.
“He has got pace, he has got strength, and he has an aerial presence. To top it all, he is a good goal poacher. It is guaranteed that if you create enough chances, he will find the back of the net. It is in his genes.”
Murchie's performance earlier in the Castle League supports Motaung’s view. He scored 15 goals.
The Varsity newcomer ascribes his goal scoring ability to be able to read the game.
“Usually after being about 20 minutes on the field I start to get a feel for the game knowing when to be where,” said Murchie who is 1.65 metres tall and weighs 65kg.
His skills can be ascribed as a classic scenario of brain beating brawn.
“Most teams want big strong strikers that can hold the ball for them. That I can do, but I am also able to cause fouls at the edge of the ‘box’ because of my size. When the bigger defenders try and take advantage because of my small of stature I am able to turn the tables on them. I am the kind of striker who will always try and make the most of every scoring opportunity that comes my way.
“Scoring my first Varsity goal against UWC was special. At first, I could not believe that I had scored. I thought I might have been offside as everything felt too easy. However the moment I realised it was a goal I was happy and emotional at the same time.”
Murchie has been playing football ever since he can remember. It was the fantastic foot skills of the experienced players that draw him to the game.
“Football is not like playing other sports. It requires something unique. The challenge to ‘think’ with your feet. I kept on being amazed by the skills of any football player when I am watching games on television. In any other sport, you are allowed to use your hands as well. That makes things so much easier."
UP-Tuks play TUT tomorrow in a home semi-final of the Varsity Tournament. Earlier in their first encounter, TUT managed to beat UP-Tuks 2-1 on their home turf.
Motaung is not to fazed by the result.
“We never focus on what happened in the past, for us it is always about what we are going to do next. I have said it in the past, and I will repeat it. The Varsity Tournament is like a marathon. It is not how you start but how we finish that matters. We have not conceded one goal in our last five games, and we are certainly playing with more confidence on the attack. So I am positive that we will get the result we want.”
Kickoff is at 16:00.
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